Detective Chief Superintendent Mary Doyle, who led the investigation, said: "I cannot speculate on what Stapleton was thinking when he pulled the trigger, but it is also important for Anuj's family and everyone around the world who was affected by this murder that we are clear about the facts.

Our investigation found no evidence that Anuj was targeted because of his race.

We have no evidence that racist comments were made and there appears to be no motivation for Stapleton other than tragically Anuj and his friends were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

He had a gun in his pocket and he used it on the first person he came across.

This was a cold-blooded, motiveless killing for which he has shown no remorse and only Stapleton knows why he committed such a horrific act that night."

Nazir Afzal, chief crown prosecutor for the North West said Anuj Bidve's "senseless" murder had "shocked and appalled us all".

He went on to say: "Since the moment that he killed Anuj, and throughout this trial, he has shown no trace of remorse and no concern for the pain his family are going through. Two days after the murder he even went to a tattoo shop and got a teardrop tattoo.

It was a sign we say that he was boasting about the murder, that he thought it gave him some sort of notoriety.

– Nazir Afzal, chief crown prosecutor

Mr Afzal said the prosecution case centred on the fact that Stapleton knew what he was doing at the time of the shooting and in the days afterwards.

He said: "My thoughts and sympathies are very much with them as Kiaran Stapleton faces a life sentence for Anuj's murder."

"It was a cowardly murder, and his reaction afterwards in trying to cover his tracks, hide from police and evade justice was also cowardly."